Ski binding with safety release



June 19, 1962 J. A. LEE

SKI BINDING WITH SAFETY RELEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1959 mm mm June 19, 1962 J. A. LEE

SKI BINDING WITH SAFETY RELEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1959 INV EN TOR.

United States Patent Ofi 3,039,782 Patented June 19, 1962 ice 3,039,782 SIG BINDING WITH SAFETY RELEASE John A. Lee, 4906 Northwest Highway, Dallas, Tex. Filed Aug. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 832,021 4 Claims. (Cl. 28011.35)

This invention relates to ski bindings and more particularly to a safety binding to provide for disengagement of the ski boot from the ski blade so that forces or moments applied to the ski Will not result in injury to the skier.

In the activity of skiing, forces may be applied between the ski and the snow or objects in the snow which result in excessive forces or moments being transmitted to the foot and leg of the skier through the ski boot. Devices have been constructed and incorporated into ski bindings for the purpose of releasing the boot from the ski when pressures and moments reach some predetermined maximum. Existing release mechanisms have not proved reliable in releasing consistently under the desired conditions. It is an object of this invention to provide a binding which will reliably release.

In a forward fall by a skier excessive bending stresses may occur in the legs or ankles of the skier if means are not provided for releasing the ski boots from the ski blades. One object of this invention is to provide a binding which will hold the ski boot in place under normal skiing conditions but will release the ski boot from the ski blade when an excessive upward force is applied by the boot to the binding. This object contemplates a weak link in the form of a rupture key which is designed to fail at a predetermined pressure and allow the binding to pivot up and away from the boot thus releasing the boot from the ski blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heel release Which operates to free the boot from the ski blade when excessive forces or moments occur parallel to the plane of the ski blade. A weak link in the form of a rupture key is contemplated as this object so that when predetermined forces are reached the key ruptures allowing the boot heel support to swing parallel to the plane of the ski blade thus releasing the boot from the binding to the ski blade.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toe release similar in construction and operation to the above described heel release to release the ski boot from the ski blade upon the application of excessive force or moments in a plane parallel to the ski blade.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical view of a heel binding and release mechanism along the line 1-1 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the heel binding and release mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical view along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a toe binding and release mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical view along line 66 of FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of an alternate design for the release mechanism for either the toe release in FIG- URE 4 or the heel release in FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the heel binding thereof is indicated generally by the numeral 10 and illustrated in position attached to boot heel 11 and ski blade 12. The numeral 14 designates a release mechanism assembly. The release mechanism assembly 14 includes journal 15, bearing 16, key holder 18, bushing 19, washers and 21, and key 22.

Journal 15 is rigidly fastened to plate 23 by means of screws 24 and 25 passing through plate 23. Plate 23 is rigidly fastened to ski blade 12 by means of four screws 26, 27, 28, and 29 passing through the plate 23. The journal is provided with slot, or keyway, 31. The journal is also provided with shoulder 32 at its upper portion.

Bearing 16 is provided with integral tongue 33. The tongue 33 is provided with shaft receiving means 35. The bearing is fastened to key holder 18 by means of screws 36 and 37 passing through the key holder 18. Key holder 18 is provided with slot, or keyway, 40. The bushing 19 and the washers 20 and 21 are made of a material such as Teflon and are positioned as illustrated in order to reduce friction between journal 15 and bearing 16 and between bearing 16 and plate 23 upon rotation of these elements with respect to each other.

In normal position, slot 31 in journal 15 and slot 40 in key holder 18 are in line with each other. In these slots, in line with each other, is key 22. Cylindrical cap 41 rests on shoulder 42 at the upper part of bearing 16 and is held in place by spring 43. The cylindrical cap serves to protect the release mechanism 14 from contamination by snow and Water and to retain the key 22 in position in slots 31 and 40.

Referring to FIGURE 2, yoke 50 is provided with arms 51 and 51'. These arms have cable receiving means 53 and 53 at their extremities into which the ends of cable 55 are threaded and secured as by soldering to washers 56. Cable 55 is designed to fit into groove 57 of the boot heel, such grooves being a standard feature of ski boots. At the opposite end of the yoke 50 from the cable, arms 58 and 58 extend on either side of the tongue 33 and receive shaft 60 which is keyed to tongue 33 by means of taper pin 61. A collar 62 is secured to one end of shaft 60 by taper pin 63.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, collar 62 is provided with slot, or keyway, 65 and the yoke 50 is provided with slot, or keyway, 66. In normal operation slot 66 in yoke 50 and slot 65 in collar 62 are in line with each other. In these slots, in line wtih each other, is key 67 which is retained in place by spring clip 68.

Still referring to FIGURE 2, a toe clamp assembly 70 is shown. This assembly is of conventional design and is fastened to the ski blade and in normal operating position serves to hold the toe of the boot B to the ski blade and at the same time force the boot B back against the cable 55. The cable 55 then serves to hold the heel of the ski boot to the ski blade.

The exertion of excessive vertical load on the cable, as in a forward fall of the skier, tends to make yoke 50 rotate about shaft 60. Rotation is prevented by key 67 until the vertical load reaches :a predetermined maximum which causes the key to rupture and allows the yoke to rotate about shaft 60 thus releasing the boot heel from the cable and thereby releasing the boot B from the ski blade. The yoke 50 can be reset by realigning slots 65 and 66 and inserting a new key 67. The key 67 can be made of metal, plastic, wood, or other suitable material. The dimentions from the center of shaft 60 to key 67 and to cable 55 provide a mechanical advantage so that variations in the cross sectional :area of key 67 will have a minimum effect on the vertical load required at cable 55 to effect rupture of key 67.

Side thrusts parallel to the plane of the ski blade against the yoke 50 by the boot heel 11 transmit a torque through the tongue 33 of bearing 16 and tend to rotate the bearing 16 about the journal 15. Rotation is prevented by the key 22 until the torque is sufiicient to exert a predetermined rupture pressure on the key 22 which then permits the yoke 50 to rotate about journal 15 and releases the ski boot from the ski blade. The dimensions from the center of the journal 15 to key 22 and to the point of contact between the boot heel 11 and yoke 50 provide a mechanical advantage so that variations in the cross sec- 3 tional area of the key 22 will have a minimum effect on the total force required between the boot heel 11 and the yoke 50 to cause rupture of the key 22. The key 22 may be made of metal, plastic, wood, or other suitable material.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, another embodiment of the invention comprises a toe release assembly generally designated by the number 80 and shown in position attached to ski blade 12 and boot toe 81. The numeral 14' designates a release mechanism assembly which is identical in construction with release mechanism assembly 14 previously described and shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 except that the bearing 16 has been modified to provide an integral toe piece 82 designed to hold the toe of the boot 81 in position on the skil blade 12. A toggle assembly 85 and cable 86 of a dmign commonly used in ski bindings is shown and provides a means of holding the ski boot B in operating position on the ski blade 12 and against the toe release assembly 80. Moments parallel to the plane of the ski blade created by pressure from the toe of the boot 81 against the toe piece 82 tend to cause toe piece 82 to rotate about the journal 15. Rotation is prevented by the key 22 until the predetermined force is exerted to rupture key 22 allowing the toe piece 82 to rotate and thereby releasing the toe of the boot 81 and allowing ski bootB to be released from the ski blade. The dimensions from the point of contact between the boot toe 81 and toe piece 82 to the center of journal 15 and key 22 provide a mechanical advantage so that variations in the cross sectional area of the key will have a minimum effect on the force required at the contact point between toe piece 82 and boot toe 81 to cause rupture.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, another embodiment of the invention comprises a release mechanism assembly 90 which can be used interchangeably with release mechanism 14 and 14' previously described.

The release mechanism assembly is indicated generally by the numeral 90 and includes a journal 91, bearing 16, bushing 19, plate 23, key holder 92, spring 94, key 95, cover plate 96, and stop plate 97.

Journal 91 is rigidly fastened to plate 23 by means of screws 93 and 93' passing through plate 23. Plate 23 is secured to the ski blade 12 by screws 28 and 29 passing through'plate 23. Journal 91 is provided with slot, or keyway, 9-8 in its upper part and shoulder 99. The stop plate 97 is fastened to journal 91 by means of screws 100 and 100 passing through stop plate 97. The under side of the stop plate 97 is provided with a beveled shoulder 102 which fits into the slot 98 in journal 91. Key holder 92 is securely fastened to hearing 16 by means of screws 103 and 103 passing through key holder 92. Key holder 92 is provided with slot, or keyway, 105 in its upper part. Cover plate 96 is fastened to the top surface of key holder 92 by means of screw 106 passing through cover plate 96 which also serves as a pivot. The cover plate 96 is also provided with handle 107 fastened as by brazing to the top surface which is used to swing cover plate 96 to the side to permit insertion of key 95 in slot 105. Bushing 19 and washers 20 and 21 are made of a material such as Teflon and are interposed between the bearing 16 and the journal 91 and between bearing 16 and plate 23 to reduce friction when relative motion occurs.

In normal position slot 105 in key holder 92 and slot 98 in journal 91 are in line with each other. In these slots, in line with each other, is key 95 and spring 94. The key 95 and spring 94 are retained in position by the cover plate 96 which may be swung back about the pivot point 106 for inserting or removing the key.

- In operation, bearing 16 tends to rotate about journal.

91 when a torque is applied to hearing 16 parallel to the plane of the ski blade 12 as the result of forces transmitted from the ski boot B as described above. At a predetermined force key 95 will rupture allowing bearing 16 to rotate and releasing the boot B from the ski blade in the same manner as described above. To reset the release mechanism bearing 16 is turned by hand about journal 91 until slot 105 in key holder 92 is in line with slot 98 in journal 91. Key is then advanced by spring 94 until the end opposite from the spring strikes the beveled stop 102. The right segment of the' key 95, as viewed in FIGURE 6, which was separated by the above described rupture is displaced to the right in groove 98. The above sequence of rupture and reset can be repeated until key 95 is of insufficient length to bridge the gap between slot 105 in key holder 92 and slot 98 in journal 91.

As a specific example, the keys 22, 67, and 95 might have a cross section of /s" x A" with a shearing strength of 100 pounds. With a mechanical advantage of 10:1 the corresponding force at the heel or toe to produce the above force would be 10 pounds.

Having thus described my invention, it will be understood that such description has been given by way of illustration and example only and not by way of limitation, reference for the-latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ski binder mounted on a ski blade for releasably securing a ski boot to said ski blade comprising in combination a journal mounted on said ski blade, means comprising a keyway within said journal, a bearing rotatably mounted on said journal for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said ski blade, means comprising a keyway within said bearing adapted for alignment with said means comprising a keyway within said journal, a key within said keyways in alignment with each other capable of rupture upon imposition of a predetermined torque upon said journal, a tongue integral with said bearing, a shaft fixedly mounted on said tongue, a yoke rotatably mounted on said shaft for movement in a plane perpendicular to said ski blade and adapted for engaging a ski boot, means comprising a keyway within said yoke, means comprising a keyway immovably associated with said shaft adapted for alignment with said means comprising a keyway within said yoke, and a key within said last-named keyways in alignment with each other capable of rupture upon imposition of a predetermined torque upon said tongue.

2. A ski binder mounted on a ski blade for releasably securing a. ski boot to said ski blade comprising in combination a journal mounted on said ski blade, means comprising a keyway within said journal, a bearing rotatably mounted on said journal for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said ski blade, means comprising a keyway within said bearing adapted for alignment with said means comprising a keyway within said journal, a key within said keyways in alignment with each other capable of rupture upon imposition of a predetermined torque upon said journal, a tongue integral with said bearing a shaft fixedly mounted on said tongue, a yoke rotatably mounted on said shaft for movement in a plane perpendicular to said ski blade and adapted for engaging a ski boot, means comprising a keyway within said yoke, a collar fixedly mounted on said shaft, means comprising a keyway within said collar adapted for alignment with said means comprising a keyway within said yoke, and a key within said last-named keyways in alignment with each other capable of rupture upon imposition of a predetermined torque upon said tongue.

3. A ski binder mounted on a ski blade for releasably securing a ski boot to said ski'blade comprising in combination a base plate fixedly mounted to said ski blade, journal means provided with an outwardly extending shoulder at one end thereof fixedly mounted on said base plate at the other end thereof, means comprising a keyway within said journal means, a bushing on said journal means, a pair of washers around said bushing, one of said washers contacting said base plate and the other of said washers contacting the underside of said shoulder on said journal means, bearing means adapted for engaging a ski boot rotatably mounted'about said bushing and contacting said washers, a keyholder fixedly engaged to said bearing means, means comprising a keyway within said keyholder adapted for alignment with said means comprising a keyway Within said journal means, a key within said keyways in alignment with each other capable of rupture upon imposition of a predetetermined torque upon said journal means, and a cap in contact with said bearing means and maintaining said key in position Within said keyways.

4. A ski binder mounted on a ski blade for releasably securing a ski boot to said ski blade comprising in combination a base plate fixedly mounted to said ski blade, journal means provided with an outwardly extending shoulder fixedly mounted on said base plate, means comprising a keyway within said journal means, a bushing on said journal means, a pair of washers around said bushing, one of said washers contacting said base plate and the other of said washers contacting the underside of said shoulder on said journal means, bearing means adapted for engaging a ski boot rotatably mounted about said bushing and contacting said washers, a keyholder fixedly engaged to said bearing means, means comprising a key way Within said keyholder adapted for alignment with said means comprising a keyway within said journal means, a spring within said last-named keyway within said keyholder, 2. key within said keyways in alignment with each capable of rupture upon imposition of a predetermined torque upon said journal means and in contact at one end thereof with said spring, a cover plate in contact with said keyholder and covering said keyways, a stop plate fixedly attached to said journal means, and a shoulder attached to said stop plate fitting into said means providing a keyway within said journal means and in contact with the other end of said key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Addition to 858,446) 

